$1 million grant to launch a study to see whether establishing a regional emergency safety dispatch service could function effectively.

Caldwell, who has been in charge of Central Dispatch since its inception in 1986, said there is no doubt a centralized dispatch center functions effectively and is economically sound.

"The buzz word today is regionalism. It isn't a new word," Caldwell said.

"It has always been talked about."

When Central Dispatch formed, the idea was for every single department in the county to use it as a central dispatching center, Caldwell said.

In order for the Perry Power Plant to get its nuclear license, one of the criteria that had to be met was building a centralized place to meet in an emergency operations center in case of an emergency outside of the emergency protection zone, Caldwell said.

Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. paid for the building costs as well as all the equipment for a central dispatch center in Kirtland -- a site that sits outside of the emergency protection zone, Caldwell said.

"We had many meetings with all of the fire and police chiefs in the county because the concept was that everyone was going to join Central Dispatch," he said. "That is why this building was built. However, no one wanted to belong to Central Dispatch. They didn't want to give up their dispatch centers."

Caldwell said he hears the same arguments against joining a central dispatch now as he did two decades ago.

With the economy turned upside down and police and fire budgets shrinking, local officials have once again considered the option of a regionalized dispatch center, but not with much enthusiasm.

Eastlake Police Chief John Ruth said there was talk a few years ago to create a western Lake County Central Dispatch but plans never got too far off the ground.

"I'm a proponent of regionalizing in some aspects," he said. "I think it is a real possibility depending on what happens with the economy.

"Unfortunately, you have to spend money to save money. There are some upfront costs that aren't available right now."

Ruth said it makes sense for communities to share certain services -- whether it be dispatch centers, SWAT teams or bomb squads -- to refrain from duplicating services in each community.

"I was in favor of a western Lake County dispatch center," he said. "I would visualize that as a real possibility in the future. Hopefully we can revisit the idea."

Others in the area aren't so confident.

Richmond Heights Police Chief Gene Rowe, who has felt the economy crush down on his department after it was forced to lay off nine employees last month, said there were talks in the Hillcrest area to consolidate in certain areas of service.

"We have six communities here that mutually have SWAT team and bomb squad," he said. "In past years, there have been discussions about having one jail instead of each one of us having a jail, but no one really wants the jail in their city.

"Years ago there were discussions about centralized dispatching, but that fell by the wayside as well."

He said that while the department might be saving money on equipment, it would be losing personnel to man the building at certain times.

The dispatchers do more than just dispatch, he said.

"By centralizing, you aren't really saving the personnel costs, and you are sacrificing service at the same time," Rowe said. "I think it is something that eventually it will have to happen, but once it does, you'll find it didn't save the amount of money everyone thought it would."

Willoughby Mayor David Anderson said the dispatchers in Willoughby are too important to be let go.

"In small departments, the dispatcher is the only person at the station at night," he said. "We don't want to be in a position where if a person runs into the station at night, no one is there.

"No doubt we'd need fewer dispatchers (across the county) if we consolidated, but we'd still have to have personnel in each station."

Bainbridge Police Chief James P. Jimison said taking dispatchers out of each police station could be a tough changeover for some.

"Most of the dispatchers are very good at what they do because they know the area and are familiar with their surroundings," he said. "There would be a big changeover in quality of service."

On the fire department side, many in eastern Lake County have been looking into a collaboration effort besides central dispatching that sits in between mutual aid and regionalizing, Painesville Fire Chief Mark Mlachak said.

The departments have been looking into sharing costs for specialized equipment, designating certain departments for speciality services and having the closest fire department to respond to a call no matter which jurisdiction its in.

"This is an attempt to take into consideration the needs of residents of not just our area, but the entire area and serve it the best," Mlachak said. "One area we are looking to collaborate is the aerial trucks which cost between $800,000 to $1 million. We can't all buy one, but we all have a need for it at some point in time. So lets find a way to share the cost."

"The economy is pushing things in this direction. We can't all afford to do everything," he added. "If we share the costs and divide them up, we all reap the benefits at a reduced cost."

Most likely, the economy is the only thing that will drive police departments to choose central dispatching, Caldwell said.

"I don't know whether they will or won't, but I know this: only economics drives consolidation," he said. "I don't know of any police or fire chief that willingly gives up its dispatch, its detective bureau, its cleaning service or its patrol cars.

"Economically this saves money, there is no doubt in my mind. It just makes sense," he added. "I'm not going to argue with my brothers and sisters in law enforcement if this works or not. I know it works."

When Caldwell was a police chief for Hunting Valley, he gave up his dispatch to Chagrin Falls.

"I told my bosses we didn't need it," he said. "I said we can get this done better and for cheaper by someone else.

"A lot of people are arguing their points today, their predecessors were arguing the same points 22 years ago," he said. "It's interesting we can fast forward to today and it's the same exact discussion.

"It's simple, when you are economically forced to make those decisions, you'll make them. Until that time, we'll all do our own thing, and that is OK. It's not a problem. Until it's push and shove, ain't nobody moving."